Railway-signal



L. V. LEWIS. RAILWAY SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED mm, 1918.

1,328,960". Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LLOYD V. LEWIS, OF EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LLOYD V. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signals, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway signals; and particularly to signals of the type comprising a semaphore biased to the stop position, a motor for moving the semaphore to one or more proceed positions, and means including an electromagnet for holding the semaphore in the position or positions to which it has thus been moved. In some instances this means including the electromagnet is also employed to operatively connect the motor with the semaphore while the former is moving the latter.

Signals of this character are usually operated by a single source of current, the electromagnet to which I have referred being connected across the entire source while the,

semaphore is being held in the position or positions to which it has been moved by the motor, aswell as at all other timeswhen the magnet is performing any function. When the source of energy is located at an appreciable distance from the signal, or when a battery having a comparatively high internal resistance is employed as the source of energy, the voltage available at the battery terminals is materially higher when the magnet alone is energized than when both the magnet, and motor are energized. On the other hand, the load on the magnet in this type of signal is not as great when the semaphore is being held at rest in the proceed position and the motor is disconnected, as it may be at other times, particularly when moving from one position to another. It therefore follows that a lower voltage may be impressed on the magnet while the semaphore is being held in the proceed position than at other times, with the result that the total energy consumed by the signal. is greatly reduced, because, under usual conditions, the total time per day that a signal is held in the proceed position is much greater than the time that it occupies other positions, and likewise much greater than the time consumed in' moving from one position to another by motor energy.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J n 2'7, 192() Application filed August 2, 1918.

Serial No. 248,064.

the proceed position, at. which latter time the magnet is connected acrossa part only of such source, whereby the voltage which is then impressed ,on the magnet is reduced with a consequent reduction in the amount of energy consumed by the signal.

I will describe one form of signal embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a View, partly diagrammatic, showing one form of railway signal embodying my invention, and one arrangement ofcontrolling circuits and apparatuswhich may be used in con nection with the same.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character S designates a semaphore which is pivotally mounted on a supporting mast or post 33. This semaphore is biased to the stop or horizontal position as shown in solid lines, but may be moved to a cantion or inclined position, and to a pro ceed or vertical position as indicated in dash lines by means of an electric motor M through the medium of suitable operating mechanism which I will now describe.

The operating mechanism comprises an arm 34 pivotally mounted at point 34 and operatively connectedwith the semaphore S through suitable means indicated by the dash. line 46. The arm 84: is moved by chains 37 and 87*, which chains are in turn driven by the motor M in the direction inclicated by the arrows. The chain 87 operates over a sprocket wheel 43 and another sprocket wheel 44, the first of these wheels being driven by the motor through a con nection 75 which usually comprises reduction gearing. The chain 37* operates over a sprocket wheel 45 and another sprocket wheel which not shown inv the drawing, but which is mounted directly behind the wheel 44 and is attached to the same shaft asthe latter wheel. The chains 37 and37 are provided with rollers 38 which project laterally from the chains to engage with a fork 35 pivoted at point 35 in arm 84. Two pairs of rollers are provided for each chain, the 7 two pairs on each chain being disposed at and immediately after the diametrically opposite points on the chain. The fork comprises three parallel prongs (only one of which is shown), the firstv and second of which coact with the rollers 38 on chain 37, and the second and third of which coact with the rollers on chain 37.

The fork is controlled by an electromagnet D through a toggle mechanism 36 in the arm 3%, the control being such that the fork is held rigidly in the position. shown with respect to arm 34, that is, in a projected position in the path of rollers 38, when the magnet D is energized, but is free to swing upwardly to a retracted position out of the path of these rollers when the magnet is deenergized. It follows, then, that when. magnet D is energized, and motor M drives the chain 37, one pair of rollers 38 on this chain will engage the fork and so elevate arm 34 and semaphore S to the intermediate or caution position, in which position the rollers pass out from under the fork and the fork is caught and held by a latch 41. This latch is pivoted to the frame work of the signal mechanism and is biased to the position in which it is shown by a spring 11. If, then, the motor M is again operated, the fork .35 will be caught by one of the pairs of rollers on chain 37, so that the arm 3% and semaphore S will be elevated to the highest or proceed position, wherein the rollers will pass out from under the fork and the fork will be caught and held by a latch 42. This latch is pivoted to the frame work of the mechanism and is biased to engaging position by a spring 42. The semaphore will then remain in this position until magnet D becomes deenergized, whereupon the fork 35 will swing upwardly with respect to arm 3i and. so become disengaged from latch 42, so that the arm 34. and semaphore S will drop to their lowest positions, as shown in the drawing.

lVhile the semaphore S is being moved from the stop to the caution position, just before the arm 35L is deposited on latch 41, the rollers 38 on chain 37 which are not moving the arm engage a cam 66 to reverse the position of contact fingers 52, 57, and upper pair of rollers has passed out of the path of fork 35 and the fork has been deposited on the latch, the lower rollers pass away from cam 66 and so allow contact fingers 52, 57 and 5 -to return to the positions in which they are shown, Similarly, while the sema hore S- is being moved from the, caution .to the proceed position, and just before the .arinreaches latch :42. one of the pairs of 'rollers on chain 37 swings cam 66 outwardly to again reverse the contacts operated there- :by'; and 'immedlately after; the rollers on the upper chain have passed out of thepath oft-he fork and the fork has been deposited on latch 42, the lower rollers on chain 37 pass away from cam 66 and so allow the contacts operated by this cam to return to the positions in which they are shown.

Just before arm 34 reaches its highest position, a knob on this arm engages with a contact finger ,39 to reverse the position of this finger, and also of a contact finger 3, and these two fingers remain in the reverse position after the fork 35 has been deposited on the latch 42.

Operating current is supplied to the motor M from a' battery B, and the electromagnet D likewise supplied with current by this same battery. The supply of current from this battery to the signal is controlled by suitable means, such as a polarized relay B. This relay comprises neutral armature contacts 9, 62 and 19, and a polarized armature contact 27. The relay R is supplied with current from a battery and is controlled by a pole-changer P in the usual and well-known manner.

The operation of the signal and of the controlling circuits is as follows:

When the relay R is deenergized, motor M and magnet D are both deenergized, so that the semaphore S is in the horizontal or stop position, and all of the other parts of the signal are in the positions in which they are shown in the drawing. I will now assume that pole-changer P is operated to energize relay R in such direction that the polarized armature contact 27 remains open. The closing of-the neutral armature contacts of this relay causes magnet D to become energized. the circuit being from the upper terminal of batteryB, through wire 8, contact 9, wires 10, 11 and 21, contact 22-2 wire 24, magnet D. Wire 15, contact 32. wires 16. 17 and 13, contact 19 of relay R. and wire 20 to the lower terminal of battery B. It will be noted that at this time magnet D is connected with the entire battery B. so that the full voltage of this battery is impressed on the magnet. Motor M is also energized, the circuit being from the upper terminal of battery B, through wire 8, contact 9, wires 10 and 11, contact 1:213, wires 14 and 25, motor M, wires 26 and 18, contact 19 of relay R, and wire 20 to the lower terminal of battery B. Motor M and magnet Dboth being energized. th arm 3% is then. raised by the rollers on chain .37, so that the semaphore S is .moved to its intermediate-or.caution position. Just beforethe semaphore reaches the caution posi tion contact finger 13 1s reversed by a cam 1614. which is operativelyconnected with the arm.3at. opening.contact..12+13 andclos'ing contact 49: 131sothat the motor circuit is then. openedifat contact 12713.. Before this occurs, howevenl cam 66 .is swung outwardly by'the rollers'38 which areithen at the bottom of chain 37, so that the contacts conllU trolled by this cam are reversed A branch circuit is then closed around motor controlling contact 12-13, which circuit is from wire 10, through wire 51, contact 52-53, and wire 54 to wire 25. The motor continues to operate, therefore, until after the rollers which have been'raising the arm pass out from under fork 35 and this fork is deposited on latch 41. After this happens cam 66 returns to its initial position and allows contact 52-53 to open so that the motor circuit is deenergized and the movement of the chainsceases.

If now, pole-changer P is reversed, relay R will become energized in such direction that its polarized contact 27 will close. A new circuit for motor M is then closed, as follows:

From the upper terminal of battery B, through wire 8, contacts 9 and 27 wires 28, 31 and 32, contact 65-39, wires and 48, contact49-13, wires 14 and 25, motor M,

,wires 26 and 18, contact 19, and wires 20 to the lower terminal of battery B. Motor M, therefore, operates the chains to elevate arm 34 to its highest position, corresponding to the proceed position of the semaphore.

After arm 34 is raised a short distance above the intermediate position, contact 30-23 becomes closed and contact 22-23 becomes open, so that a new circuit for magnet D is established as follows: from the upper terminal of battery B through wire 8, contact 9, contact 27 wires 28 and 29, contact 30-23, wire 24, magnet D, wire 15, contact 3-2, wires 16, 17 and 18, contact 19 and wire 20 to the lower terminalof battery B. Just before the proceed position is reached, contacts 39 and 3 are reversed by the action of knob 40, so that the motor circuit is opened at contact 65-39, but prior to this contact operation cam'66 has been actuated to reverse the contacts which are controlled thereby. A branch for the motor circuit is then closed around contact -39 which branch is from wire 31, through wire 55, contact 56-57 and wire 58 to wire 48. The motor, therefore, continues to operate until after the roller 38 has passed out from under fork 35 and this fork has been deposited on latch 42. After this occurs, cam 66 returns to its initial position, thus opening contact 56-57, and so deenergizing motor M, whereupon the chains come to rest.

It will be noted that just before the semaphore reaches the proceed position, contact 3-2 is opened, and contact 3-4 becomes closed," so that wire 15 in the circuit of magnet D becomes disconnected from wire 16', and becomesconnected with wire 59. Prior to'this operation, however, contact finger 5is reversed, so that wire-59 is at first connected with wire 17 through; contact 5-7 T and wire 60. Hence while the'chains are still moving, that is, at the time that fork 35 is deposited on latch 42 the entire voltage of battery B is still applied to magnet D through the branch circuit from wire 15. contact 3-4, wire 59, contact'5-7, wire 60 to wire 17. After fork 35 is deposited on latch 42, however, contact finger 5 returns to its initial position. The circuit for magnet D is then from the upper terminal of battery B, through wire 8, contacts 9 and 27, wires 28 and 29, contact 30-23, wire 24, magnet D, wire 15, contact 3-4, wire 59, contact 5-6, wire 61, contact 62, and'wire 63 to an intermediate point in battery B. At this time, therefore, only the portion 1) of battery B is connected with magnet D, so that the voltage which is impressedon'this magnet is considerably reduced. This reduced voltage is sufficient, however, to cause magnet D to hold the fork 35 in engagement with the latch 42 and so to hold the semaphore S in the vertical or proceed position.

It follows from the foregoing that while the signal is in the proceed position, magnet D consumes less energy than at any other time while this magnet is functioning, and so the total amount of energy required for the operation of the signal is materially reduced.

If, while the signal is in the proceed position, pole-changer P is returned to its intermediate position, relay'R becomes deenergized so that the circuit formagnet D is opened, whereupon the arm 34 and the semaphore S drop to the posit-ions in which they are shown in the drawing, and the signal then again indicates stop. If instead of the relay B being deenergized, polechanger P is reversed, so that contact 27 of relay R opens, magnet D will'be denergized, but as soon as the arm 34 drops to the point where contact 23-22 closes, this magnet will again become energized so that the arm 34 and semaphore S will be stopped by latch 41. Magnet D is at this time connected across the entire battery B so that the energization of the magnet is sufiicient to withstand the blow occasioned by the engagement of the fork 35 with the latch 41. The circuit for magnet D at such time includes contact, 22-23 and contact 2-3; in other words, the circuit is then the same as that which energizes magnet D while the signal is moving from the stop to thecaib tion position;

I do not in this application make any claim for the feature of maintaining the energization of motor M until after the rollers 38 have passed out from underfork 35, this invention being the"subject-matter of an application by Charles \V. Dunhamffiled June 6, 1918,Serial No' ."238560, "for railway signals.

Although I have herein 'shownjand described only one form of signalembodying rent.

my invention, it is understood thativarious changes and modifications'may be made therein Withinthescop'e' of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my lnvention.

arm 'on said latch, a source of current, and

means controlled by said arm and by said chain for connecting said entire source of current with said magnet while the chain is moving the arm and for disconnecting part of said source from said magnet'when the arm reaches said proceed position.

2; A signal comprising a semaphore biased to stop position, an arm'operatively connected with said semaphore, a movable chai-ir'provided with projections arranged to-coact with said'rarm'to move the semaphore to a proceed position, a latch for holdmg said 'arm in the latter position, means including a magnetfor connecting said arm with said projections and for holding the arm on said latch, a so'urceof current, a normally closed contact 2+3 and a" normally open contact" 3- 1; controlled by said arm in such manner that the former is opened and the latter closed when the arm reaches the positioncorresponding to the proceed position of the semaphore, a second normally closed contact 5-6 and a second normally open contact 5-7' controlled by said chain in such manner that the former is opened and the latter closed when; the arm reaches the position corresponding to the proceed position of the semaphore and that the former contact again closes and the latter again" opens after the arm has been deposited on said latch, a circuit for said magnet including said'normally closed contact 2-3 and said entire source of current, a branch for said circuit around said contact 2 3 and including .said contacts and 5-7 in series, anda second circuit for said magnet including 'said contacts" 3+4 and: Ii -=6 in series and a part only of said source-of cur- ;3.-1A :sig'nal comprising a "senlapho re biased to stop p'o's1t1on an :arnr ope'ratlvely connected with'vsaid semaphore, a movable chain provided" with projections arrangedto ico'act witlrgsaid armtomove-"the-ssemaphore to; a procedfriposition, alarm-s 1- holding said arm in the latter position',-means including a-'-magnet;for connec'tingsaid arm with: said: projections and "for "holding f-the arm on said a'latch, a source Ofcurrent, and means'including a contact operated by'said arm for connecting saidentire source with saidfma-gnet while the chain is moving the arm and for disconnecting part of said source-from said "magnet when the arm reaches the proceed position.

l. A signal comprising a semaphore biased'to stop position, an'arm operatively connected with said semaphore and provided 'with aforlemovableto a projectedand a retracted POSI'UIOH, means lncluding a magnet for holding said fork in projected posi- 131011. whenthe magnetisenergized, a movable chainshaving a'iprojection arranged to coact with saidfork' to move the arm and semaphore tola proceed'position and to then pass out of the path of said fork, a latcharrangedto coact with said fork to hold the arm in the latter position after the chain projection has left the fork, a source of current, and means including-a cont-act operated by'said-arnrand a-contactoperated by said chain for connecting said entire source-with said magnet while'the chain is moving the arm and for "disconnecting part of said source from said magnet after the arm has been deposited on said latch.

5.A signal comprising a semaphore 'biased tostop position,an arm operatively Connected WlthSZIlCl semaphore and provided with a fork movable to a projected-and a retracted;:pos1t1on,-' means including a magnet for holding said fork in projected position when't-he magnetis energized, a movable chain having a? projection arranged to coact with-said fork, tofmove' the armand semaphore to. a proceedposition and to then pass out of the path of said fork, a latch ar-v ranged to coact with said fork tohold the arm in the latter position, a source of current, and means including a contact operated'by said arm for connecting said entire source with said magnet while the chain is moving the arm-and for disconnecting part of said source from 'said magnet when the arm reaches'said proceed position.

6. A signal comprising 'a semaphore biased'to stop position, a-motor, means for moving said semaphore to a proceed position comprising two coacting members the first of which is: operatively connected With the motor and the second with the semaphore,

a third-member; coacting. withz-the secondto hold theflsema'plioremsaid proceed position, means: ncluding a ---magnet for controlling the co-action of the second member with-the first and third members, a'source of current, and means nclud ng, a, contact operated by the second member;-for connecting said entire Sourcewith-sai; magnetwhile tl'ie-sema phore is being =m0 a-an; part only of saidsou rcewith xsaid fmagnet rafter the :semaphore has reached said "proorconnecting a need :po'sition;

7. A signal comprising a semaphore biased to stop position, a motor, means for moving said semaphore to a proceed position comprising two coacting members the first of which is operatively connected with the motor and the second With the semaphore, a third member coacting With the second to hold the semaphore in said proceed position, means including a magnet for controlling the co-action of the second member With the first and third members, a source of current, and means including a contact operated by the second member and a contact operated by the first member for connecting said entire' source with said magnet While the semaphore is being moved and for connecting a part only of said source With said magnet after the third member becomes effective to hold the semaphore in said proceed position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LLOYD V. LEWIS. Witnesses A. HERMAN \VEGNER, E. P. CRUM. 

